Woods vs Irons

[immts007]

Can anyone break it down for me? I've googled on this, and haven't really found a clear answer.

I'm finding that I prefer to hit woods, whenever possible, in almost every situation. I'm considering adding a 7 and a 9 to my bag, but that would require losing a club or 2.

The most likely candidates would be my 4 and 5 iron. I've tried a few hybrids and like the woods better.

I'm wondering what is it about irons that makes them a better choice in certain situations. Is it 'workability'? What is the decision tree for choosing an iron over a wood?

EDIT: I'm only talking about 5i - 3i when I say "irons".

[Backspin]

It's about control. Controlling the direction and shot height are the main reasons I hit irons over woods, in most cases. It's also easier to hit irons off of odd lies and out of the rough, at least for myself.

[iacas]

  immts007 said:

I'm wondering what is it about irons that makes them a better choice in certain situations. Is it 'workability'? What is the decision tree for choosing an iron over a wood?

That's part of it, sure. Plus for a lot of people, a high lofted wood is tougher to control in general than an iron that goes a similar distance. It's generally easier to shape irons, to hit them higher or lower, to take a little off, to hit out of fairway bunkers, etc. Basically, I think they're a bit more versatile.

Perhaps rather than give up you should get some instruction. It seems to me your swing might be pretty flat at the bottom and thus not geared towards irons. Not saying you need to keep the 3-iron or maybe even the 4-iron, but a 5-iron? Most of the guys I see without a 5-iron are pretty over the hill golf-wise - and it's been my impression that you're a bit younger, no?

[shortgame85]

  iacas said:

That's part of it, sure. Plus for a lot of people, a high lofted wood is tougher to control in general than an iron that goes a similar distance. It's generally easier to shape irons, to hit them higher or lower, to take a little off, to hit out of fairway bunkers, etc. Basically, I think they're a bit more versatile.

Over the hill you say? Careful, sonny, I resemble that remark! Ah hell, where did I put my dentures?

[Big_M]

  Backspin said:

It's about control. Controlling the direction and shot height are the main reasons I hit irons over woods, in most cases. It's also easier to hit irons off of odd lies and out of the rough, at least for myself.

I agree with the above statements... woods just aren't as versatile of a club.

  shortgame85 said:

Over the hill you say? Careful, sonny, I resemble that remark! Ah hell, where did I put my dentures?

Awesome... people not carrying a 5-iron are usually over the hill

Whenever I hear of someone carrying a 7-wood or 9-wood I think of Gary Player... everytime I've seen him playing in recent years he's had some high numbered woods in the bag. They were all the rave about 8-10 years ago before hybrids hit the market.

[Oggiss]

I believe it has to do with different size on the "sweet spots". On the metalwoods they're bigger in the sentence that they're more forgiving. When you have learned to control the irons, which takes time you will soon realise that is what you wanna hit in most cases. But since the hybrids has come, it's been quite an exchange to both metalwoods and irons =)

[AmenCorner]

I think it depends on the caliber of player. The higher handicappers might get better results with more woods/hybrids. But the single digits will have at least a 5 iron and up, most of them 3 and up. I personally have a 2-iron and use it to tee off rather frequently. I just bought a 2 hybrid and am getting used to it. Still like the 2 iron b/c of the feel and predictability of ball flight. I hit it 220-230 off the tee, and many times that is good enough (and much safer than a wood) for me on the shorter and tighter par 4's.

[immts007]

  iacas said:

That's part of it, sure. Plus for a lot of people, a high lofted wood is tougher to control in general than an iron that goes a similar distance.

At this stage of my game, I hit my 5 wood much further and straighter than any of my long irons, and it's proving very adaptable: I can do about a 1/4 backswing that will go 150-170, a half backswing that will go 170-190ish and a 3/4 backswing that will go up to 210 or so. (I try not to attempt full backswings because they inevitably = massive fail for me)

  iacas said:

Perhaps rather than give up you should get some instruction. It seems to me your swing might be pretty flat at the bottom and thus not geared towards irons.

Yeah... probably true. I'm taking a group class right now (about 15 people) but that would probably be something more suited for individual lessons

  iacas said:

Not saying you need to keep the 3-iron or maybe even the 4-iron, but a 5-iron? Most of the guys I see without a 5-iron are pretty over the hill golf-wise - and it's been my impression that you're a bit younger, no?

43 in September, but man I feel older than that sometimes... and I've never been very flexible or limber...

I may just go with the 7 wood for now, keep working on my irons and take a few private lessons like you suggest. Thanks for the feedback guys.

[alcyone]

As you can see from my sig, I like hitting woods too.

What I use depends on the course conditions. When things dry up in mid~late summer, I'll pull the 10 and 14 wood and put in my 6 & 8 irons. I might also substitute a 2 and 4 iron for my 5 & 7 woods. On my home course, there isn't much need to work the ball one way or the other but you need to control your distance.

[immts007]

Thanks for the input, alcyone... I don't really have a lot of 'macho' invested in this - I'll use whatever helps me play a better, more satisfying game.

So about hybrids - they confuse me a bit as well. I have some that are more "iron-like": the bazooka ql's. I've hit them well in the past but very inconsistently...

The Bobby Jones hybrids look very appealing to me (except for the price tag), but I look at them and think that they look just like fairway woods. What makes the Bobby Jones a "hybrid" rather than a wood/metal? Is there something about them that makes them more like an iron??

[Dub]

I just can't see giving up my 3 iron at this time.

I hit some great tee shots with it on tight driving par fours. I can count on it. I don't have the same confidence in a wood or hybrid accuracywise off the tee on tight holes.

I'm thinking of not using a 5 wood and adding a hybrid there, though. It may be easier to hit than my 3 iron in certain situations.